Remove the remaining styles and perianth to avoid finger-tip disease. Removing one or two small bottom hands (keeping 7–8 hands) gives uniform bunch development and is recommended for export. Cover the stalk with the flag leaf to prevent stalk-end rot, and cover the bunch with ventilated polythene sleeves (2% in the cool season, 4% in summer) or white non-woven sleeves immediately after the last hand opens, to avoid sunscald. After harvest, cut the pseudostem leaving a 0.6 m stump.
Pending expert review
Source
Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Banana – Bunch care; bunch cover, pp. 9–10
